Top 5 foods that contain Microplastics you should avoid

Image from a UNWRAPPED conference which investigated the health risks of microplastics in food

Microplastics are practically everywhere and when ingested, microplastics can cause a wide range of maladies. They contain carcinogenic elements, traces of metals, organic chemicals and other such impurities. According to Consumer Report, on a weekly basis, some of us might have consumed “a credit card’s width” of plastic without even noticing. An even more concerning statistic is the one provided by the Environmental Science and Technology journal: humans may be ingesting 39000-52000 pieces of microplastic each year. Another study shows that on top of the 39000-52000 pieces of microplastics that are consumed yearly, those who drink tap water ingest an extra 4000 pieces.

A study conducted by King’s College London cogitated that the build-up of microplastic may be toxic. Microplastics, plastics in general, vary in degrees of toxicity. Some plastics are manufactured with harmful chemicals. These chemicals can be detected in trace amounts within microplastics. These harmful chemicals, if ingested at a high amount, may cause a weakened immune system. However, there are no conclusive studies that outline the impacts microplastics have on the human body.

So, how can I avoid consuming or using microplastics? Yes, microplastics are everywhere, but here are the top 5 foods that contain microplastics you should avoid:

1. Shellfish - According to a study conducted by the University of Newcastle, Shellfish contain one of the highest levels of microplastics. Seafood generally contains an elevated level of microplastics. This is a testament to how polluted our oceans and water bodies are. Shellfish, amongst other seafood, contain one of the highest concentrations of microplastics because they are filter feeders.

2. Bottled Water - Bottled water contains a high concentration of microplastics. Single-use plastics infiltrate the water in these packages. To avoid this, use metal or glass containers.

3. Teabags - When dipped in hot water, the microplastics infiltrate the water along with tea.

4. Microwave/ready meals - Plastics that house these meals often leach into the food themselves, effectively contaminating it.

5. Apples - Fruits like apples take in microplastics from the absorption of water from their roots.

Though microplastics are practically unavoidable, there is legislation in some countries that is in the works to prevent their spread. Some countries have placed regulations to control the production of single-use plastics. According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), 14 countries have banned specific products and materials that use single-use plastics.

Bibliography

Gibbens, S. (2019, June 6). You eat thousands of bits of plastic every year. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/you-eat-thousands-of-bits-of-plastic-every-year

LEGAL LIMITS ON SINGLE-USE PLASTICS AND MICROPLASTICS: A GLOBAL REVIEW OF NATIONAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. (2018). UN Environment Program. https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/27113

Living, G. (2020, July 22). 7 Foods That Contain Microplastics. Everything Bags Inc. https://www.everythingbagsinc.com/blog/foods-containing-microplastics/

Loria, K. (2020, April 30). How to Eat Less Plastic. Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/health-wellness/how-to-eat-less-plastic-microplastics-in-food-water/

NOAA. (2021, February 26). What are microplastics? National Ocean Service. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html